PAT CAPUTO: Star wars, Detroit style

There has been a “can’t compete” sign sitting on Detroit’s sporting front lawn for years.

It is located in the rust belt. Its struggling economy was the precursor for the nation as it was drawn into what is increasingly being referred to as the “Great Recession.”

Detroit is known for corrupt politics, crime and poverty.

Despite being a media market pushing four million people, Detroit is, for some reason, not considered a “major” market anymore - even if it still ranks 11th nationally.

So theoretically, there is no way the four major sports professional sports teams should be able to compete with New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or any other so-called “major” markets.

Star players? Detroit, at least according to its reputation, should be one those towns where they might luck into a great player or two in a draft, but not retain him when free agency looms - or draw veteran talent when it becomes available.

Detroit, at least according to its image, should be the town elite athletes love to leave.

Perception is a lot different than reality, isn’t it?

A case can be made Detroit is leading the nation in superstar athletes. And they are not leaving. They are staying.

There is no better hitter in baseball than Miguel Cabrera. Justin Verlander is arguably the game’s top pitcher. Prince Fielder is on track for a Hall of Fame career. He signed a $214 million free agent contract with the Tigers. All are in their prime and signed long term.

The days when this town delirious over Ivan Rodriguez, past his prime and with no other viable offers, still signed here, are over. The Tigers’ opening-day player payroll was $148 million - fifth in Major League Baseball. It wasn’t overpayment to draw players to Detroit. The Tigers arguably have the best team in either league.

The Lions’ Calvin Johnson set the NFL’s single-season receiving yardage mark in 2013. He is playing on his second contract.

The Lions have yet to sign quarterback Matthew Stafford to a contract extension, but it would be an upset if they don’t. Stafford embraced coming to this town as the No.1 overall pick in the NFL draft, despite a collapsed Detroit economy and an 0-16 team. He did not shun Detroit like Eli Manning did San Diego and John Elway to Indianapolis. Stafford now spends all his off-season here preparing for the coming season When he won the ESPY for comeback player of the year for 2011, he stood before the nation and spoke glowingly of Detroit with genuine understanding and affection.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg signed long-term contracts with the Red Wings rather than pursue free agency. Nicklas Lidstrom played in Detroit for 20 years. It speaks well for how the Red Wings and Detroit are regarded internationally in hockey circles.

The Red Wings’ reputation for being a team of destination unfairly took a beating last summer when premier free agents Ryan Suter and Zach Parise bypassed Detroit for Minnesota, but it wasn’t the insult projected. Both are American players with ties to the Upper Midwest and Minnesota. On a lower level, the Red Wings did sign European Damien Brunner and local product Danny Dykeyser. It’s doubtful the Red Wings would have made the playoffs without those two. And there is cap space for the future.

There have been athletes who didn’t want to stay. Grant Hill. Juan Gonzalez. Ben Wallace. But those are far in the rearview mirror. The Pistons won the NBA title - over the big-market Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals - after Hill left, and Wallace did return to finish his career with the Pistons. Gonzalez turning down a $140 million contract offer turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Tigers, who have made the postseason three of the last seven years, including two appearances in the World Series. In each of those playoff appearances, the Tigers have ousted the ultimate big-market juggernaut, the New York Yankees.

Detroit and Southeast Michigan still have many issues. There is no sugar coating them.

But “can’t compete” in professional sports is a label that doesn’t fit. And it’s a “major” market.

Detroit’s proven it.Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98